At the NASA CCAM Technical Convening, CCAM staff and invited guests had the opportunity to tour the NASA Langley Research Center, gaining a firsthand look at the cutting-edge additive manufacturing (AM) technologies being developed on-site. The visit offered valuable insight into NASA’s ongoing research efforts, highlighting how advanced manufacturing techniques are enabling new possibilities for aerospace applications. Throughout the tour, CCAM representatives explored areas of alignment between NASA’s work and CCAM’s research portfolio, identifying opportunities where collaboration could address complex challenges or fill gaps in capability. Discussions centered on how CCAM’s applied research and industry-driven approach could support NASA in solving technical problems, accelerating innovation, and advancing scalable AM solutions.
The convening also featured five in-depth technical presentations covering a range of forward-looking topics, including Industry 5.0, Distributed Polymer Additive Manufacturing, CM4QC (Closed-Loop Manufacturing for Quality Control), the R&D Thread for Additive Manufacturing Cyber-Physical Workflow, and NASA Design for Inspection. Each presentation provided unique insights into the evolving AM landscape, emphasizing the integration of digital technologies, data-driven processes, and workforce collaboration to enhance manufacturing outcomes. These talks not only showcased current advancements but also sparked engaging discussions among attendees, encouraging new ideas and perspectives on how additive manufacturing can be applied more effectively across industries.
In addition to fostering technical dialogue, CCAM used the visit as an opportunity to welcome its new cohort of summer interns. The experience provided an inspiring introduction to the field of advanced manufacturing, allowing interns to begin their summer by engaging directly with one of the nation’s premier aerospace research facilities. During the tour, interns were encouraged to ask questions and interact with NASA engineers, researchers, and subject matter experts, gaining insights into real-world applications of AM and the challenges associated with producing components for space exploration. This exposure not only deepened their understanding of the field but also reinforced the importance of innovation, collaboration, and problem-solving in advancing the future of manufacturing.
